Project Description
The Value Chains Competitiveness Programme (the “VCCP”, the “Programme”) aims at enhancing competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) in the Industry, Commerce and Agribusiness sector (“ICA”, corporate sector) in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region (“SEMED”). The Programme is financed by the European Union Neighbourhood Investment Facility (“EU NIF”). Under the Programme, support is allocated to Sector Development, Competiveness and Value Chain Diagnostics. Through its engagement in SEMED, the EBRD has identified that the bottlenecks for private sector development include limited competitiveness of SMEs and their lack of opportunities to export to markets with high potential, such as the EU.
The ultimate objective of the Project is to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in the Industry, Commerce and Agribusiness sector in the SEMED region. The Project will contribute to Programme objectives to benefit local SMEs that are part of a value chain in industries such as agribusiness, manufacturing and services, logistics and distribution, and information and communication technologies (“ICT”). Improved value chains will support SMEs in innovating processes and production and contribute to increased access to high-value markets such as the European Union (“EU”). Specific objectives of the Project are to:
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undertake analysis, focusing on sector, competitiveness and value chain analysis, and diagnostics of regulatory impediments in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, and develop recommendations;
- support the organisation and delivery of public-private workshops to present and discuss findings with relevant public-private stakeholders.
The typology of assignments and call-offs will vary, depending on the methodology, scope, sample and regional context of each research and diagnostic assignment. The specific scope of the studies to be conducted will be further specified depending on evolving private sector challenges and opportunities as well as Programme developments and relevant operational needs. Potential topics include: (i) Identification of competitiveness bottlenecks and export development opportunities in selected value chains across ICA sectors; (ii) Mapping of SEMED countries’ integration in global value chains; (iii) SMEs’ participation in GVCs with attention to links between SEMED countries and other regions; (iv) Specific assessments of firms’ competitiveness in ICA sectors and related recommendations; (v) Assessment of competition barriers in specified sectors; (vi) Corporate governance and competitiveness; (vii) SMEs and spill-over effects.
The Consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks and activities inter alia:
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Undertake analysis, focusing on a) Sector, Competitiveness and Value Chain Analysis, and b) Diagnostic of Regulatory Impediments in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. In terms of methodology, the analyses will be based on primary research and case studies as well as existing data, surveys, and research, information available from the EBRD, other IFIs and national sources as well as foreign and domestic investors.
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Develop recommendations on priority areas and the potential ways policy-makers, private sector companies, investors, IFIs and development partners can support policy reform, investment, and technical cooperation.
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Develop presentations on key findings from the diagnostic analyses, present and discuss them with relevant public-private stakeholders, and incorporate their feedback.
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Together with the EBRD, organise and hold public-private workshops to discuss study findings with local private sector companies, specifically SMEs, business associations, export councils and chambers of commerce, public authorities, IFIs, EU representatives, international development organisations and other relevant stakeholders. This will include identifying relevant attendees, sending all invitations and securing their participation, developing the agenda, ensuring smooth logistics organisation for the workshop, developing and disseminating visibility materials (e.g. articles/press releases, etc.) and compiling the workshop conclusions and actions for follow-up.
- Ensure alignment of the focus of the analysis with the Programme’s and the strategic and operational priorities, in close coordination with other EBRD teams.
Coordinate with other consultants working on related studies under the Project in order to consolidate and cross-validate relevant findings, provide regular updates on progress and detailed inputs for reporting purposes as requested.
Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.
General enquiries
EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com
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Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)
If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).
IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.
Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.
